River tubing?

MrsCherishLove

DH and I are trying to plan a camping/river tubing trip for sometime in July.  Does anyone have any recommendations on where to go?  I know some places have the choice of a 2 hour trip or a 6-7 hour trip.  I'm leaning towards the 6-7 hours, but I'm not sure if it would be too long.

Thanks ladies!

 

MrsLokiAngel

We went tubing on the rifle river a few years ago, it was a blast (except for the part where DH almost drowned, his foot got caught in the rope and he flipped and couldn't get back out, fortunately we were tubing with a few former military guys who sprang into action and saved him!).

I'd only go for 2 hours though, I think 7 hours would be way too long to be sitting in a tube. Also, remember your sunblock, I got the worst sunburn EVER on my ankles because I did not reapply it there. 

 This might be the place:  http://riverviewcampground.com/tubing/index.shtml 

MrsCherishLove

Oh my gosh! That's scary about what happend to your DH!

Yes that is the place I was looking at online!  Are there places to stop along the river? That's why I was thinking maybe the longer one, because we could stop along the way and eat lunch, and then continue on the river.  Oh, I will be applying lots of sunscreen!!

bll530

A friend has a cabin along the Manistee River in Grayling and we used to go every 4th of July and go tubing. We did 2 hr floats and longer ones like 4hrs and the 4hr ones were rough if the weather wasn't nice. Or we would leave and the sun was shining and about half way through it started raining and there's nothing worse than being 2 hrs away from the end and no where to go.  BUT don't let me discourage you, as long as the sun is shining you will have an awesome time. Our favorite thing was to see who could come up with the best way to float their beer down the river. It's amazing how creative people can get when it comes to beer.

MrsLokiAngel

MrsCherishLove:

Oh my gosh! That's scary about what happend to your DH!

Yes that is the place I was looking at online!  Are there places to stop along the river? That's why I was thinking maybe the longer one, because we could stop along the way and eat lunch, and then continue on the river.  Oh, I will be applying lots of sunscreen!!

Now that I think about it we did do the long one, and it was fun. There were plenty of places to stop along the river, we did that too. We stopped on a sandy bit and ate lunch standing in the water. I highly recommend you wear water shoes of some kind.  

MrsBarstool2011

I have gone down the AuSable several years now.  My suggestion is to do the shorter one because you will stop along the way and it will take longer.  The timing they give you doesn't really account for the stops you make, just how long it should take to float from point A to point B.

Liz the Bride

Ive done the Rifle River for the last 2 years in August with a hug group of like 20-25 people and it just depends on your group and the weather whats the better trip. We do the long trip with the Deluxe Tubes. We also get a few tubes for the coolers. we also camp there for the weekend.

We never really pulled up on land for lunch, but def in the shallow areas we are put our feet down and get out of the rafts and just hang out for a bit. We also drink a lot.

 http://riverviewcampground.com/

cwimer6154

A group of us go every year to Rifle River Campground in Sterling.  We usually do the long (7-8 hour) canoe trip.  We are thinking of switching to the short tube trip this year but not sure if we can get everyone to commit to that. 

There are a few different campgrounds in the area that will shuttle you to the launch areas.  It's usually a big, drunkin party the whole time.  Tons of fun!!!

Pookums

I did the AuSable also it was okay, we did the longer trip and it felt way too long.

Sidenote: I was with my bf and his older brother and gf and all of their freinds. They were drinking quite a bit and to this day all I remember is all the guys getting out and peeing in the water pretty regularly. It grossed me out so much that I refused to get in the water for any reason after that I just kept picturing all the other tubing groups peeing in the water too and there were a lot of them. I know that happens of course but it was just so much it really skeeved me out.

mrsmitch06

cwimer6154:

A group of us go every year to Rifle River Campground in Sterling.  We usually do the long (7-8 hour) canoe trip.  We are thinking of switching to the short tube trip this year but not sure if we can get everyone to commit to that. 

There are a few different campgrounds in the area that will shuttle you to the launch areas.  It's usually a big, drunkin party the whole time.  Tons of fun!!!

Here's the name of the camp ground in Sterling, MI on the Rifle River http://www.whitescanoe.com/

Before kids we would go every year and it was a huge drunkfest!  I have to tell you, it was tons of fun!! We'd go the 1st or 2nd weekend in August and the campgrounds were always full, so reserve early and try to get campgrounds near bathrooms.  It was SOO much fun!  We did the 7-8 hour trip one year, but when you're drinking that's more like 10 hours. So, we only do the 2-3 hour trip and that still took a good long 5 hours because we'd stop and catch up with one another and hang out (drink).  I HIGHLY recommend White's, it was SO fun and you basically walk/drive to where you load a bus and they take you to the canoes.  We also tubes and 4 person rafts.  I'm so jealous that you're going, it was SOOOO fun!!!! 

ksunquest

MrsBarstool2011:

I have gone down the AuSable several years now.  My suggestion is to do the shorter one because you will stop along the way and it will take longer.  The timing they give you doesn't really account for the stops you make, just how long it should take to float from point A to point B.

THIS! We always do the short trip and it ends up taking us forever because we stop at 'shotgun' points to drink.

MrsB1021

mrsmitch06:

cwimer6154:

A group of us go every year to Rifle River Campground in Sterling.  We usually do the long (7-8 hour) canoe trip.  We are thinking of switching to the short tube trip this year but not sure if we can get everyone to commit to that. 

There are a few different campgrounds in the area that will shuttle you to the launch areas.  It's usually a big, drunkin party the whole time.  Tons of fun!!!

Here's the name of the camp ground in Sterling, MI on the Rifle River http://www.whitescanoe.com/

Before kids we would go every year and it was a huge drunkfest!  I have to tell you, it was tons of fun!! We'd go the 1st or 2nd weekend in August and the campgrounds were always full, so reserve early and try to get campgrounds near bathrooms.  It was SOO much fun!  We did the 7-8 hour trip one year, but when you're drinking that's more like 10 hours. So, we only do the 2-3 hour trip and that still took a good long 5 hours because we'd stop and catch up with one another and hang out (drink).  I HIGHLY recommend White's, it was SO fun and you basically walk/drive to where you load a bus and they take you to the canoes.  We also tubes and 4 person rafts.  I'm so jealous that you're going, it was SOOOO fun!!!! 

We also went to that campground for a couple of years and did the tubing.  I say do the shorter one because you can stop and hang out along the way.

MrsCherishLove

Thanks everyone!!!

That is a very good point that the shorter trip can take longer, so now I'm leaning towards the shorter trip.  I'm pretty excited....this was on my bucket list, lol

RKelly10

We go to the same place in Sterling mentioned above but only do the short trip.  Typically people are too intoxicated and if the weather is bad (which is always is when we go - terrible luck) then the idea of sitting in a cold river for 6 hours does not fly with most of us. We take our time on the short trip and it typically takes a little bit longer.  It is so fun, I cannot wait to go this year!

catstoy73

MrsB1021:

mrsmitch06:

cwimer6154:

A group of us go every year to Rifle River Campground in Sterling.  We usually do the long (7-8 hour) canoe trip.  We are thinking of switching to the short tube trip this year but not sure if we can get everyone to commit to that. 

There are a few different campgrounds in the area that will shuttle you to the launch areas.  It's usually a big, drunkin party the whole time.  Tons of fun!!!

Here's the name of the camp ground in Sterling, MI on the Rifle River http://www.whitescanoe.com/

Before kids we would go every year and it was a huge drunkfest!  I have to tell you, it was tons of fun!! We'd go the 1st or 2nd weekend in August and the campgrounds were always full, so reserve early and try to get campgrounds near bathrooms.  It was SOO much fun!  We did the 7-8 hour trip one year, but when you're drinking that's more like 10 hours. So, we only do the 2-3 hour trip and that still took a good long 5 hours because we'd stop and catch up with one another and hang out (drink).  I HIGHLY recommend White's, it was SO fun and you basically walk/drive to where you load a bus and they take you to the canoes.  We also tubes and 4 person rafts.  I'm so jealous that you're going, it was SOOOO fun!!!! 

We also went to that campground for a couple of years and did the tubing.  I say do the shorter one because you can stop and hang out along the way.

I second this! We usually stayed at White's. We have also done the long canoe trip. Nothing like sitting up front, while your DH/BF guides you down the river, in a lawn chair soaking up the sun and having a cold drink (or 2) and jello-shots!